Calibrachoa plant named &#39;cal depyel&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  Calibrachoa  plant particularly distinguished by medium-sized, deep-yellow flowers, an early to moderately-early and continuous flowering response, grass-green to deep-green, glossy foliage with lanceolate leaves, moderately vigorous growth, a medium-sized and spreading to prostrate plant habit, with strong branches, is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Calibrachoa sp.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Cal Depyel’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp., and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Cal Depyel’. The new cultivar originated from a hybridization made in July 2002 in Gilroy, Calif. The female parent was the proprietary deep-yellow flowered Calibrachoa plant ‘471-1’ (unpatented), while the male parent was the proprietary Calibrachoa plant ‘465-1’ (unpatented) having deep yellow flowers. The seeds produced by the hybridization were sown in January 2003 in Gilroy, Calif. A single plant selection was chosen for further evaluation and for asexual propagation in Summer 2004 in Gilroy, Calif.

The new cultivar was created in 2002 in Gilroy, Calif. and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by vegetative cuttings and tissue culture in Gilroy, Calif. over a two-year period. ‘Cal Depyel’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The present invention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this cultivar were applied for in Canada on Mar. 31, 2005, in Switzerland on Sep. 16, 2005 and with the European Union on Sep. 28, 2005.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Gilroy, Calif. and Hillscheid, Germany.

-   -   1. Medium-sized, deep-yellow flowers;     -   2. Grass-green to deep-green, glossy foliage with lanceolate         leaves;     -   3. Moderately vigorous growth with strong branches;     -   4. A medium-sized and spreading to prostrate or trailing plant         habit; and     -   5. An early to moderately early and a continuous flowering         response.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Calibrachoa plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show overall plant habit including blooms, buds, and foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of a whole plant about 11-weeks old, grown in a greenhouse in Hillscheid, Germany, in May of 2005.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms, buds and foliage.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the mature inflorescences.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘Cal Depyel’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Hillscheid, Germany. The plant history was taken on 6-week old unpinched plants which were planted as rooted cuttings in 12-cm pots in July 2005, and then grown in a greenhouse. Observations were made when the plants were in full flower in August 2005. Color readings were taken under natural light in the greenhouse. Color references are primarily to The RHS Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (RHS) (2001).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Solanaceae.         -   Botanical.—Calibrachoa sp.         -   Common name.— Calibrachoa. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—‘471-1’ a proprietary deep-yellow flowered             Calibrachoa plant (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—‘465-1’, a proprietary deep-yellow flowered             Calibrachoa plant (unpatented). -   Growth:     -   -   Form.—Herbaceous perennial, usually cultivated as an annual             plant         -   Habit.—Spreading initially, later overhanging or trailing             with fair branching; should be pinched once to enhance basal             branching.         -   Height (measured from the top of the soil).—12.3 cm.         -   Width (horizontal plant diameter).—42.3 cm.         -   Propagation.—Terminal tips for cuttings.         -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—10 to 11 weeks             for a 12-cm pot.         -   Outdoor plant performance.—For hanging baskets and container             planting.         -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—About 21 days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, self-branching. -   Stems:     -   -   Average number (basal plus secondary).—11.4.         -   Length of basal branches (from center of the plant to the             tips).—24.6 cm.         -   Internode length.—1.3 cm to 2.5 cm.         -   Diameter of branches (from midpoint).—0.3 cm.         -   Stem color.—RHS 143C (green).         -   Texture.—Covered with dense pubescence.         -   Anthocyanin.−Absent. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Initially alternate and later appearing             opposite at flowering branches.         -   Size.—Length: 4.7 cm Width: 1.5 cm         -   Shape.—Elliptic (narrow).         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Apex.—Acute to obtuse.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Color (mature leaves).—Upper surface: Deeper than RHS 143A             (deep grass-green), between RHS 141A and RHS 143A Lower             surface: RHS 137D.         -   Texture.—Appears glossy and nearly glabrous.         -   Venation.—Pinnate but indistinct, apart from the midrib.         -   Venation color.—RHS 145B for the lower surface.         -   Variegation.—None.         -   Petioles.—Length: 0.1 cm to 0.3 cm Width: 0.1 cm to 0.2 cm             Color: RHS 144A Texture: Covered with dense pubescence. -   Flower bud:     -   -   Shape.—Tube-shaped or narrow funnel-shaped, with the lobes             folded lengthwise.         -   Size.—Length: 2.0 cm when beginning to unfold Diameter:             Funnel is 0.4 cm; 0.5 cm to 0.7 at the tip.         -   Color at tight bud.—RHS 1B (greenish-yellow). -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Blooming habit.—Continuous from Spring to Fall, nearly             year-round.         -   Inflorescence type.—Flowers appear solitary, emerging from             the leaf axils.         -   Floret type.—Base is funnel-shaped; upper lobes open             outward, salver-shaped and slightly zygomorphic.         -   Number of flowers per node.—One.         -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—6 days         -   Size.—Diameter (flower face): 2.8 cm to 3.1 cm Length             (flower face): 2.8 cm to 3.1 cm Depth (total length of             flower): 2.1 cm.         -   Funnel.—Length (from below): 1.7 cm Diameter (at opening):             0.7 cm to 0.9 cm.         -   Fragrance.—Weak, petunia-like.         -   Peduncles.—Color: RHS 144A Length: 2.5 cm Diameter: 0.1 cm             Texture: Pubescent. -   Flowers:     -   -   Immature flower.—Diameter: 2.5 cm to 2.8 cm Color: RHS 9A             (deep yellow).         -   Mature flower color.—Upper surface: RHS 9A to RHS 9B,             uniform Lower surface: RHS 9C, with very fine lines or             mid-veins of RHS 151 B (green-yellow).         -   Corolla.—Shape of corolla: Tube-shaped Color inside:             Slightly more greenish than RHS 9B Color outside: RHS N144B             (yellow-green) Outside texture: Covered with dense glandular             hair.         -   Petals.—Shape: Lower part fused, upper part is a free lobe             Apex: Rounded, retuse Base: Fused Margin: Entire Waviness of             petals: None or very little Lobation: Weak Texture: Smooth.         -   Sepals.—Shape: Lanceolate Apex: Acute Base: Fused Margin:             Entire Length: 1.1 cm Width: 0.2 cm Color: RHS 137D (green)             to RHS 137A at tips Texture: Pubescent (covered with dense             hair) Pubescence color: Whitish -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Number: 5 (various lengths) Filament color: RHS             155A (whitish) Filament length: 0.5 cm to 1.0 cm Filament             diameter: 0.1 cm Pollen color: RHS 10B (yellow) Pollen             quantity: Moderate.         -   Pistils.—Number: 1 Length: 1.0 cm Diameter: 0.1 cm Stigma             color: RHS 145B (light-green) Style color: RHS 145C             (pale-green). -   Fruit and seed set: No seed set observed. -   Disease and insect resistance: No particular resistance or     susceptibility has been observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

‘Cal Depyel’ differs from the female parent ‘471-1’ (unpatented) by having smaller leaves, a more prostrate plant habit and an earlier flowering response than ‘471-1’.

‘Cal Depyel’ differs from the male parent ‘465-1’ (unpatented) by having larger flowers than ‘465-1’. In addition, ‘Cal Depyel’ develops more basal branches, and at a later stage, develops more flowers in the center of the plant than ‘465-1’.

‘Cal Depyel’ differs from the commercial cultivar ‘Cal Yel’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,464) by having larger, deep and more uniform yellow flowers than ‘Cal Yel’ (RHS 9A for ‘Cal Depyel’ compared to RHS 10A for ‘Cal Yel’). In addition, ‘Cal Depyel’ has brighter green foliage and fewer but stronger branches with longer internodes than ‘Cal Yel’. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant as shown and described herein. 